Spanish left-back joins on season-long loan
NORWICH City have agreed the signing of 27-year-old Spanishleft back Javier Garrido from Serie A side Lazio on a season-long loandeal, subject to the relevant international clearance being received.
The former Manchester City player will become Manager Chris Hughton’sfifth summer signing, joining Steven Whittaker, Jacob Butterfield,Robert Snodgrass, and Michael Turner as new recruits ahead of the newseason. City also have an option to extend the deal.
Hughton told Canaries.co.uk: “I’m absolutely delighted to be bringing in somebody of Javier's quality.
“It gives us real competition in the squad, and for me an importantfactor was the fact that he has played in the Premier League before.
“He has played in La Liga, Serie A, and the Premier League, so he is a player of real experience.”
The experienced Garrido spent the last two seasons with former Italianchampions Lazio in Serie A, and also played 49 games in the BarclaysPremier League with Manchester City, as well as having three campaignsin La Liga with Real Sociedad under his belt.
Garrido began his professional career in Spain with Real Sociedad, wherehe played 86 league games between August 2004 and August 2007 – alsobeing capped at international level by Spain Under-17s, 19s, 20s, and21s.
His performances caught the eye of then Manchester City and formerEngland manager Sven Goran-Eriksson, who spent £1.5M on the full-back,bringing him to Eastlands on a four-year deal in August 2007.
After 49 Premier League appearances for the current Premier Leaguechampions, Garrido moved to Rome to join Lazio in a reported £2.5M dealin July 2010, just a week after the £17M arrival of Aleksandar Kolarovat the Etihad Stadium, who moved in the opposite direction.
Garrido played 21 times in two years at Lazio, who ended the 2011-12Serie A season in fourth position, and will certainly bring some addedexperience and quality to the Norwich City squad ahead of the newcampaign.
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